147gr Hornady XTP

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papajoe222

papajoe222

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I began loading these for my pocket pistol and really liked the lower recoil that resulted. I recently loaded a couple of magazines for my 19 and I gotta say I scored better than I normally do (not really saying much), I understand that the lighter 115gr projectiles are a better choice for a defense round, but I like the Idea of the extra 30+gr.
Anyone else using these in their EDC?
 
papajoe222 said:
I understand that the lighter 115gr projectiles are a better choice for a defense round,
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I have to admit I've never heard that stated as fact or even supported by any studies. May I asked how you arrived at this belief?

Perhaps you're thinking of 115gr bullets traveling at +P+ speeds (in excess of 1300fps), but even then effectiveness is more a function of bullet design and shot placement
 
I'd read a magazine article a while back that mentioned the original loading for 9mm was with heavier bullets, but hey evolved to lighter projectiles for better penetration and expansion. I 'm more concerned with shot placement and stopping power and I think the heavier bullet is a plus in both. I know there are projectiles with better terminal capability, I was just wondering If others are relying on the 147s for their carry weapons.
 
I carry either 147grn or 135grn in my carry 9's. I thought the 135's were a nice tradeoff between the 124grn and 147grn... my concern was the 147grn wouldn't be traveling fast enough to expand reliably, but I think Job #1 is to get the bullet to the target.... and either or do it well enough out of my Kahrs. Hornady did away with the 147grn Critical Defense (which was, essentially, an XTP, anyway, I believe...) but Speer has the 147grn GoldDots... and as soon as I rotate my next batch of 135's out, I'll have those to carry.

As far as 115grn or 124grn SD ammo...? I'd carry it if that's what I had.
 
We carried the 147 gr as duty rounds for several years because the FBI said they were the 'best:rofl:', but they were the WORST!:( The 147 gr are ballistic equivalent to the 38 sp 158 RN lead ammo used MANY years ago.:oops: When they preformed so poorly in many shootings we went to the 127 gr Win +p+ and have had VERY good results in our shooting incidents since. TOO EACH HIS OWN!:)
 
Charlie98 said:
Is it fair to compare standard 147grn loads with +P+? I'm not saying there isn't validity to your results, but for those of us who don't venture into the +P arena....
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In the real world there is no 'second place', only winners and loosers!:( I was not talking 'technical' here I was talking 'tactical', on the street performance. If you do not want to use the +p that is your decision, but it is common knowledge that the 9 was not designed for 'heavy' (147 gr) bullets.:) I could tell you many times the 147's 'failed to stop the threat'. Did we cross paths while you were at Fort Cartoon?:D
 
Jim Rau said:
Did we cross paths while you were at Fort Cartoon?
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I don't know... I don't recognize the name. B & C Cos, 704th MSB.

No, I know the 9 wasn't really designed for the 147, kind of like the .45ACP wasn't designed around the 230grn bullet that has become the standard today. Why not +P? ...because, tactically speaking, I don't want the muzzle blast and flash that would give me out of a 3.5" barrel. I tried the same thing when I was carrying a 4" .45... +P gave me a fireball the size of a basketball.
 
papajoe222 said:
Anyone else using these in their EDC?
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I used to reload the 147XTP for my 9mm Shield and really liked the accuracy but I just couldn't get the velocity I wanted from the short barrel. I now use them for SD in my 38 Super Witness and higher velocity is no longer a problem.
 
My P365 loves the 147gr XTP loaded hot with 5.0 grains of Ramshot Silhouette, which is supposedly around 980fps out of a 4" barrel. No idea what it's doing out of the shorter 3.1" barrel since I don't have a chronograph.

In fact, I went to the LGS yesterday to pick up another box of them and they were all out, so I grabbed some 124gr XTPs to try.
 
Trey Veston said:
My P365 loves the 147gr XTP loaded hot with 5.0 grains of Ramshot Silhouette, which is supposedly around 980fps out of a 4" barrel. No idea what it's doing out of the shorter 3.1" barrel since I don't have a chronograph.

In fact, I went to the LGS yesterday to pick up another box of them and they were all out, so I grabbed some 124gr XTPs to try.
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I switched to the 124XTP for 9mm also, and found they performed much better than the 147s in my Shield. After settling on the best loads for the XTP, I then tried the 124gn Gold-Dot and haven't bought another XTP since. Gold-Dot accuracy is much better probably because they're .001" larger in diameter than the XTP.
 
147gr XTPs are wonderful to shoot, and really easy to keep subsonic. Penetration might not be quite as good, but Ill take a mag of them in a suppressed gun indoors than anything supersonic.
 
I checked my chronograph data. I've loaded 147gr XTPs with 4 different powders. According to my notes, I liked Power Pistol the best. It was right at 1000FPS out of a G-19.
But I primarily shoot them out of a carbine. (no chrono data) I've taken coyotes with them at 40-50 yards. With that being said, I carry 124gr for SD.
 
BC17A said:
I switched to the 124XTP for 9mm also, and found they performed much better than the 147s in my Shield. After settling on the best loads for the XTP, I then tried the 124gn Gold-Dot and haven't bought another XTP since. Gold-Dot accuracy is much better probably because they're .001" larger in diameter than the XTP.
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I'm a big fan of the Gold Dot in the 'short-barrel' .45ACP 230grn load, I tried the 147grn (I think) Gold Dot in my Kahrs and the accuracy was good, but not as good as the Hornady 147grn CD load... so I stuck with the Hornady. I have a small lot of both the 135grn Hornady, and the 147grn Gold Dots, as well as a box of Remington 115grn HTP (a very inexpensive round.) I'll have to go through them, again, to see.

Truth be told, I'm probably being stupid about it... I don't think the accuracy differences at 25ft or so (give or take) are going to matter a hill of beans, given the situation where I would be using them.
 
I load them for a Gen4 G19.

BE-86 loaded to .3gr over Hornady's book max. 1063fps average velocity. Incredibly accurate.

These usually produce excellent penetration in all the test videos I've watched which is what I want. Lower recoil and less muzzle blast from reduced charge weight is just icing on the cake.
 
I was just reloading another batch of the 147 grain XTPs and 124 grain XTPs and noticed that the 147 grain is boat-tailed. It is the only 9mm bullet out of all the different weights and manufacturers I own that is. I found that interesting.

003-35580_4.jpg

And the Gold Dots have a concave surface on the bottom which may contribute to their accuracy.
 
Trey Veston said:
I was just reloading another batch of the 147 grain XTPs and 124 grain XTPs and noticed that the 147 grain is boat-tailed. It is the only 9mm bullet out of all the different weights and manufacturers I own that is. I found that interesting.
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I suspect this may be done to keep the longer bullet from causing bulges in 9x19 cases that have a slight internal step where the back of a 115 or 124gr bullet would be seated.
 
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